Merrill and Donny Osmond talk about busy December for the family

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Merrill Osmond and his son Shane will talk about the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund and hearing aids at the South Jordan Senior Center (10778 S. Redwood Road, South Jordan) on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m.

After a whirlwind year in which the Osmond Brothers sold out 50 shows over 60 days in the United Kingdom, the brothers are promoting a new album, "Can't Get There Without You," as well as the nonprofit in honor of their late mother, Olive Osmond, dedicated to health and hearing issues.

In a phone interview, Merrill Osmond had a lot of news to announce: He will soon be releasing a tribute album to his late friend Elvis Presley, who owned a copy of The Book of Mormon and was investigating The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When Presley's beloved mother died, Olive stepped in and became a second mother to The King, Merrill Osmond said.

Music from the Osmonds' new album will be played frequently on Merrill's new monthly podcast, to be launched in December. The podcast will be available at http://www.merrillosmond.com/radio.

The public is invited to come hear the Osmonds speak.

December will be busy for other members of the family.

Donny and Marie Osmond's "Christmas in Salt Lake" show will be held Dec. 26-29 at the Capitol Theatre/

On Nov. 26, my colleague Ben Fulton interviewed Donny.

Here are excerpts from the converssation:First, on the challenge of redefining yourself as an entertainer ... "The dynamics that take place in the entertainment world are pretty interesting. I've had a lifetime to figure this out. When you're popular at 14 or 15, everyone loves you. Then, all of a sudden, when they're 19 years old, they turn on you. The songs you sang like 'Puppy Love,' that they once loved, is now kid stuff. But nothing really changed, except them and you getting older. What when they're 30, 40 or even 50 years old, then it's OK for those fans to come out of the closet, so to speak. Everyone comes to embrace it. That's what's happened in my life."Second, on sister Marie's ups and downs in life ... "She's a survivor. She's been able to work her way through it. A lot of people have. I think that one of the reasons this [Christmas] show has been a success over the years is because we're all living in difficult times right now. The country is divided. The show we put together takes the country back to a more simple time. I enjoy going back and highlighting those things. But there is a portion when we sing 'Winter Wonderland.'"

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